Did you know, not every great artist can be good teacher.
Arts and Crafts are a very personal affair and very few of us have the flair to “teach”.
Most of us are excellent at demonstrating our skills as artists and designers but teaching is a skill, all on its own and not all of us are equipped with what it takes to be an motivational teacher.
I believe a ‘good’ teacher is one who can inspire you, one who has patience, and one who is prepared to accept the chaff (those who may not be exceptional talented but who are zestful and eager to learn ) as well as the wheat grain. Alot of people believe that you have to be born with artistic skills – but I don’t adhere to that theory. Skills can be cultivated and talent can be honed. Everyone who stumbles upon a craft-kit, is not looking to build something magnificent – but he might find comfort in simply ‘trying’ to build something abstract out of it – maybe that is his prowess. That’s where the creative adroitness of the instructor comes handy.
I’m going to talk more about crafts here, rather than arts.
I have been teaching crafts for the last 12 or so, years, in schools, art institutes, with corporate organizations, and one aspect that stands out in “crafts” is that, alot of planning and organisational skills are required for a workshop or class.
Some of the aspects, you should figure out before committing to a workshop are :-
- The length of the activity
- The age of the group
- The ability of the group
- Will any assistance be provided for a group larger than 7 or 10 participants ?
- The venue and availability of wash basin, electric socket.
- Hanging equipment if project needs to be hung for drying.
- Leg work on the theme :- research the theme, source photographs, make a fancy power point presentation and have a small write-up to introduce the background story to the students
- Plan all the supplies needed.
- Inorder to calculate all the supplies and quantities needed, I suggest to ‘actually’ work this activity out and figure out how much time and the quantity of supplies needed. Then add that by the number of participants. And remember to carry spares.
- Visiting the venue atleast once before the workshop is a good idea. And it also helps to develop a smooth rapport with the coordinators.
Crafts are so much fun but it can be challenging when we coordinate the activity with the curriculum or in this case, the theme.
The theme was Threads: A link between two totally different cultures or countries, of a peculiar habit, tradition, game, food, ritual, structure etc. Obviously, I had to come up with a craft based on it as well.
I found this theme very exciting and after a day of relentless research, i was fascinated with what I discovered. While at it, I also realized, what separates us, are our differences, while in our similarities, we find solace and unity.
Here are just a few of the similarities I found, in my research. (ofcourse, there must be a few hundred more !!)
- China – India ⇔ Kites
Both the countries are known for the zest with which they enjoy the sport of playing with Kites. However, kites in China, are much more elaborate and designed in various shapes, much unlike India.
- U.S.A – Russia – China – Burma ⇔ Bells
Amongst many other countries, these four countries are known to have Bells playing a remarkable and important historical role.
- Egypt – Mexico – Cambodia – China ⇔ Pyramid structure
Although the Egyptian Pyramids are the most popular structures known worldwide, Mexico, Cambodia and China are also known to have their own ancient mystical prism structures.
- Africa – India – China – Japan ⇔ Masks
Different cultures symbolize the mask with various deities, animal, spirit or human. Made from ceramic, wood etc, communities use masks for weddings, funerals, coming of age. They ask for spirit blessings, protections etc. They use it to tell stories and impart wisdom. Used in puppetry as well as ceremonial celebrations.
- Australia – USA Arizona ⇔ Boomerang
Although the earliest boomerang was designed in Australia, it is widely used and played with in Arizona – USA.
- Mexico – China ⇔ Bowls
(Taco Bowl / Bowl to eat rice and noodles) Rice is one of the staple grains in both Mexico and China – Infact they handicraft their own bowls to eat it in !
- Bali – Mauritius ⇔ Woven baskets
Both Bali and Mauritius weave their own baskets but in different designs and colors and techniques.
I decided that my subject would be Masks. It intrigued me just as much it did, to the children. I provided the children with cardboard after the power point presentation on how, why, when and where masks are worn, all over the globe and then asked them to design their own masks, providing them inspiration and a whole lot of recyclable material. It was amazing what the children came up with – far beyond expectation. 
Here are a few samples from one of the groups.
One of the reasons, I love this project is becoz it helps children play and utilize scraps of foam, cardboard, buttons, macaroni, foam cups, beads, thereby realizing and understand the main concept of reusing items found around the house.
Clearly the kids enjoyed it and got to take a little of History and Geography back home too !!
I believe imparting knowledge and information is very gratifying.
I hope I have been able to inspire you into trying something new, something unique and something fun today. If so.. please do write to me.
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Totally Papercrafts: diecut, embossing, ribbon.
